"I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer," Jolie said of her decision. "It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that's it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can."

Her father Voight issued a statement to Piers Morgan on Tuesday (May 15), in which he said that Jolie was "brave" to make such a difficult choice.

"I fully understand Angie's decision," Voight commented. "What a magnificent woman she is and so brave. I also feel she will be an inspiration to all women who may be vulnerable to a similar situation."

Her fiancé Brad's mother Jane Pitt echoed Voight's statement, saying to People: "We're so very proud of Angie. This means so much to our family, especially our grandchildren. We love her dearly."